Seven killed in shooting at church in Jordan
- Seven people were killed and 34 injured in a shooting at a church in Jordan.
- The attack occurred during a funeral at the Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud.
- Major General Abdullah Al-Maaytah confirmed the official casualty figures.
- King Abdullah II vowed to strike the perpetrators with an iron fist.
- Jordanian security forces are currently conducting an active manhunt for the attackers.
Seven people were killed and 34 were injured when gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral in the village of Hamoud, Jordan, on October 23, 2026. Masked gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan.
Major General Abdullah Al-Maaytah, Director of Jordan's Public Security Directorate, confirmed the 7 deaths and 34 injuries, noting that at least 27 of the wounded remained under hospital care. France 24 reported that several people were killed and dozens were wounded in the church shooting.
Authorities designated the shooting a terrorist attack. The incident resulted in seven deaths.
Gunmen storm funeral service with explosives and firearms
Between 150 and 200 mourners attended the funeral at the Hamoud Greek Orthodox Church, located roughly 180 kilometers south of Amman. Survivors told the Jordanian broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that an explosion occurred as the funeral procession began.
Masked gunmen then entered the building and fired for several minutes before they fled the scene. Al Jazeera reported that one attacker carried a pistol while another carried an assault rifle.
King Abdullah II vows retaliation as manhunt continues
King Abdullah II vowed to strike the perpetrators "with an iron fist". He stated the attack "against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation".
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya described the attack as "unprecedented" and the work of a group with "absolutely no connection whatsoever to human values".
As of Friday evening, Jordanian security forces conducted an active manhunt for the attackers. No group claimed responsibility for the assault.
Security forces remained on heightened alert throughout the south as the search for suspects continued into the night.
Global leaders condemn attack on place of worship
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the assault. His spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said that an attack on a place of worship during a funeral procession is especially heinous.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the shooting as a heinous terrorist attack. Aoun said the act reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland, and its aim is to strike at coexistence and spread strife.
The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry condemned the attack as a terrorist and criminal act. The ministry rejected all forms of violence aimed at undermining regional security and stability.
Karak community and church leaders vow resilience
A Polish-Jordanian family was among those affected by the church attack. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Jordan issued a statement affirming that the attack will not drive Christians away.
The church stated the violence will only make the community cling to the region more firmly and deepen their roots. Residents of Karak said religious groups have shared streets, markets and history for centuries. They described the attack as a wound that strikes deeper than the physical damage to the stone building.
Discrepancies in casualty counts reported by media
Media reports varied regarding the number of casualties following the shooting. CNN and The Guardian reported that 9 people died and 40 were injured.
NBC News reported 7 deaths and 40 injuries. PBS reported 7 deaths and 34 injuries. Official authorities and most international media outlets cited 34 injuries.
Incident marks one of the deadliest attacks in Jordan in years
Local authorities said the shooting left 7 people dead and nearly 3 dozen injured. The incident left seven people dead and nearly three dozen injured, according to local authorities.
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- 7 Dead, 34 Injured After Gunmen Storm Jordan Church During Funeral (latintimes.com)
- Jordan (Wikipedia — background) (en.wikipedia.org)
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